Medical Assessment and Rating Board

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) evaluates medical institutions and regulates permission for establishing or expanding medical education facilities. It is an autonomous board under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, responsible for assessment, rating and enforcement of institutional standards within the framework of the National Medical Commission.

Assessment, inspection and public disclosure

Section 26 sets out MARB's principal powers and functions. Its assessment role checks whether medical institutions comply with standards laid down by the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education boards.

• MARB determines the procedure for assessing and rating medical institutions against standards laid down by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, in accordance with regulations.
• It carries out inspections of medical institutions for assessment and rating, and may hire and authorise third-party agencies or persons to conduct these inspections.
• It conducts, or causes to be conducted, the assessment and rating of all medical institutions within the period specified by regulations.
• It makes institutional assessments and ratings available on its website or in the public domain at regular intervals, in accordance with regulations.

Permission to establish or expand medical education

MARB grants permission for specified institutional developments in accordance with Section 28. This permission function is distinct from its continuing assessment of institutions.

• Its permission-granting role covers the establishment of a new medical college, the starting of a postgraduate course and an increase in the number of seats.
• The permission process requires submission of a scheme to MARB under the statutory framework.

Action against institutions failing to maintain standards

Where an institution fails to maintain the minimum essential standards specified by the undergraduate or postgraduate medical education board, MARB can take corrective or restrictive measures.

• Its measures include issuing a warning, imposing a monetary penalty, reducing intake or stopping admissions.
• It may recommend withdrawal of recognition to the National Medical Commission; the recommendation must not be confused with MARB itself withdrawing recognition.
• It also performs other functions assigned to it by the Commission.